TOWN OF WILLISTON 

Notice of Adoption
Williston Unified Development Bylaw Amendments

On June 4, 2024, The Williston Selectboard adopted amendments to the Williston Unified Development Bylaw. These amendments are related to residential building heights, residential densities, density bonuses for affordable housing developments, and zoning map amendments to comply with new provisions of 24 V.S.A. 4412 adopted under Vermont Act 47, the HOME Act of 2023. The adoption followed a public hearing, held on the same day, to receive comments on the proposed amendments.

The amendments are summarized as follows:

• Allow multi-family residential buildings with four or fewer units in Williston Sewer Service Area, Including Agricultural Rural Residential Zone, where required by the HOME ACT.
• Allow 5 dwellings per acre in zoning districts that allow residential and are in the Williston Sewer Service Area which ensures Williston’s zoning regarding density complies with the HOME Act.
• Reduce minimum parking requirements for residential developments as required by the HOME Act.
• Change Taft Corners Form Based Code Overlay District to Taft Corners Form Based Code Zoning District, move from Appendix F to Chapter 32, and Amend Zoning Map to reflect.
• Clarify motor vehicle fueling (gas stations) and cannabis retail are prohibited uses within the Taft Corners Form Based Code Zoning District.
• Remove Business Park Zoning District from Chapter 32.
• Reduce maximum allowed building height in Form-Based Code Zoning District Shopfront and Town Center from five stories to four stories, previous five-story maximum only allowed for Affordable Housing Projects as required by the HOME Act.
• Replace “Dwelling Unit Equivalent” throughout with “dwelling,” which ensures Williston’s zoning regarding density complies with the HOME Act.
• Restate required 40% density bonus for Affordable Housing Projects as required by the HOME Act in all residential and mixed-use districts.
• Remove “focal point” from Chapter 46 Definitions and add “footprint lot” definition to clarify that such lots are not subject to allowed residential densities for small lots otherwise required by provisions of the HOME Act.

The amendments to the Bylaw will go into effect on June 25, 2024, unless a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of Williston is filed with the Town Clerk by June 24, 2024, asking for a vote to disapprove the adoption. If a petition is received, the Selectboard will warn a special meeting and the voters may vote on that question pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4442.

The above is a summary. The complete adopted amendments to the Williston Unified Development Bylaw are available for review during regular business hours at Town Hall. You can also read them in the documents below, which highlight the amendments that were adopted as proposed. Members of the public can contact the Williston Planning Department at (802) 878-6704, or at planning@willistonvt.org with any questions.

Erik Wells
Town Manager
Williston, VT

Publication Date: June 13, 2024 (Williston Observer)